Thai-German Climate Programme – Policy

CONTEXT

Thailand pledged its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20-25% against the business as usual level in 2030. It has defined concrete sectoral measures and targets in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, green industry and waste management for 2021-2030. In addition, the identified six adaptation priority sectors include water resource management, agriculture, public health, natural resources management, tourism and human settlements.

The key challenges remain for Thailand of how effectively the climate objectives and mandates can be implemented into sectors. Additionally, enhanced capacities in GHG emission accounting, assessment of mitigation results and scientific-based assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities are required to enable policy makers to make informed decisions that drive effective mitigation and adaptation actions towards climate-resilient and decarbonization pathways.

OBJECTIVE

To enhance capacities and ambition of the Thai government to shift development in key sectors towards climate-resilient and decarbonization pathways

APPROACHES

Our team of national and international experts works closely with Thailand’s climate policy focal point, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) in national policy development, subnational implementation, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of climate actions, climate finance and international cooperation to provide coherent and systematic cross-sectoral support to mainstream climate actions in key sectors.

RESULTS SO FAR

• M&E of Thailand’s Climate Change Master Plan (2015-2050) has been conducted. Key gaps and challenges were identified, and recommendations were put forward for Thailand to revise the Climate Change Master Plan.
• A report on stocktaking of existing domestic laws and sectoral mechanisms, a review on international experience in drafting climate legislation and an in-depth study of potential economic and financial instruments have been proposed for  drafting Thailand’s Climate Change Act.
• Key responsible officers from 60 provinces are being trained to integrate the climate change aspects into provincial development plans.
• The strategies for ASEAN Cooperation on Climate Change and Action Plan for Thailand to engage in ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC) have been developed as support to ONEP, as Thailand’s AWGCC focal point. These strategies have identified potential opportunities for Thailand to take the lead in public health and sustainable tourism sectors, and as regional training hubs for several climate-related topics.
• Thailand’s participation in the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG) Initiative and the NDC Partnership increases Thailand’s visibility and engagement on international climate platforms and enhances the country’s ambition for climate actions. Moreover, the NACAG declaration was signed in December 2019 by the Thai and German Ministries of Environment and the NDC Partnership was approved by the Thai Cabinet in January 2020.

COUNTRY

Thailand

PROJECT PARTNERS

Office of the Natural Resource and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)

PROJECT DURATION

01/2018 –04/2022